A roundup of Kettering University’s continued impact on the Flint community in 2014

Since adopting ‘Community Vitality’ as one of four strategic pillars in Kettering University’s mission, Kettering students, faculty, staff, alumni and many community partners have made significant progress on a wide range of community initiatives.

That momentum continued to grow in 2014. In an MLive.com article in December 2014 entitled, ‘Kettering University continues to put Flint in national spotlight,’ Flint Mayor Dayne Walling said, “(Kettering University’s) success has created a positive draft that has pulled our entire community forward."

Read about some of Kettering’s many initiatives in the Flint area over the past year.

Kettering University Unveils Ice Rink at Atwood Stadium: Kettering University is converting Atwood Stadium into a free public outdoor ice rink for area residents and students to enjoy during the winter months. Read more.

Service Saturdays continue to grow: The Service Saturdays concept was started in 2013, led by Myra Lumpkin, coordinator for Greek life and community service, and Jack Stock, director of external relations. The founding principle of the initiative was to simply promote civic engagement among Kettering students, faculty and staff. Read more.

Kettering’s historic Atwood Stadium receives funding boost from Mott Foundation: The Ruth Mott Foundation has confirmed the Atwood Stadium restoration project will receive up to $100,000 in matching funds, effective April 1, 2014. In a letter to Kettering University officials, the Foundation has granted the funds to assist with the campaign for Atwood Stadium, led by the Friends of Atwood Stadium, a group of community volunteers. Read more.

Students helping Metro Community Development build aquaponics facility: The students, as part of Kettering’s Center for Culminating Undergraduate Experiences Interdisciplinary Senior Capstone Design course are working with Metro Community Development of Flint and PetraFirma, LLC, to design an aquaponics system. Read more.

Kettering University playing an active role in Flint's revitalization: Kettering University highlighted ‘Community Vitality’ as one of its four key strategic pillars. The Community Vitality pillar represents the concept that, “The City of Flint and the surrounding area are important attributes of the Kettering experience. It is imperative that we actively engage in the economic renewal of our city and region by fueling innovation and entrepreneurship in our graduates and by collaborating with our partners in the region.” Read more.

Kettering University students, Girl Scouts partner to spread STEM concepts: Nearly 100 Girl Scouts from southeastern Michigan worked to earn badges and learn STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) concepts at the third annual Kettering University Girl Scout STEM Daycamp on September 6. Read more.  

Gov. Snyder helps open FIRST Robotics Community Center: Snyder was among several dignitaries, including Don Bossi, president of FIRST Robotics, Flint Mayor Dayne Walling and Jennifer Liversedge of the C.S. Mott Foundation, who participated in a special ribbon cutting ceremony with hundreds of students, faculty, staff and community members commemorating the opening of the facility -- the first of its kind on any university campus in the country -- on Sept. 19. Harrison Ford, a junior majoring in Mechanical Engineering at Kettering and a mentor for the Flint F.I.R.E. FIRST team (one of eight expected to be housed in the facility), also spoke about the impact the FIRST Community Center will potentially have on area students. Read more.

Kettering receives NSF grant to support robotics students: Kettering University has received a grant for nearly $600,000 from the National Science Foundation to support academically talented but financially disadvantaged students in their pursuit to become leaders in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Read more.

Kettering University Relay for Life raises more than $10,000 for cancer research: The annual event raised more than $10,000 and 10 cancer survivors were honored during the festivities. Organizers hosted this year’s relay at Atwood Stadium, a historic Flint venue that officially became part of Kettering’s campus last year. Read more.

Flint, Kettering University receive $1 million Department of Justice grant for neighborhood revitalization: Efforts to create a safe, walkable University Avenue Corridor region connecting McLaren Regional Medical Center, Kettering University and surrounding neighborhoods to downtown Flint along University Avenue received a major boost with a $1 million federal grant to Kettering University that will support neighborhood revitalization efforts. Read more.

CDC grant will fund community cleanups and other University Avenue Corridor initiatives: Funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is providing $150,000 over three years to the University Avenue Corridor Coalition (UACC) to help fund a warming shelter during ice skating at Atwood Stadium, allow resources for cleanups of abandoned lots and fund the purchase and installation of new lighting along the Flint River Trail, among other initiatives. Read more.

Streamlining Processes at the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan: As the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan prepared for a major expansion in 2014, two Kettering University students played a key role in helping the organization identify opportunities to make their operations run more efficiently. Read more.